Cookies for breakfast



Source: www.flickr.com/photos/ericabreetoe/6122886164/

Last week I had a few days where I was feeling a bit blue. You know how it is - you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or the sun forgets to shine for a few days, or there's a series of small negative events in a row that convinces you the world is stacked against you ("what do you mean you're out of raw sugar???").

When I'm feeling this way all I want to do is crawl back into bed. I also want to pout and feel sorry for myself and have everyone else feel sorry for me, too. However, since I'm supposedly all grown up now, these approaches are no longer acceptable.

The experts suggest fresh air, exercise and more sleep. All good ideas, but here are my go-to solutions for cheering myself up.

• Eat a treat. Throw all those food rules (and guilt) out the window and eat what you want - cookies for breakfast, Timbits throughout the morning, McDonald's for lunch, Doritos for dessert. You can do some extra sit-ups tomorrow.
• Spoil yourself. Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands if you want some pampering. My favourite mini-splurges are fresh flowers, lip balm, body cream/wash, a trashy magazine or a new book. Or all of the above.
• Pump up the volume. It's true that music can soothe your soul, especially when it's from the 1980s (the cheesier the better). I'll freely admit to having some Ace of Base, Young M.C. and Pat Benatar in my Happy Mix.
• Make a baby smile, or better yet, laugh. Luckily I have Ryan at my disposal to tickle whenever I want. If you don't have a baby handy, they're easy to find at schoolyards, grocery stores and Starbucks - just don't look too desperate or the mom might call the cops (which won't help your blue mood).

See, don't you feel better already!